DEHRADUN: an interim amount of Rs. 3 crore for each of the state’s 13 districts was immediately released by the Uttarakhand government on Friday to tackle natural calamities such as cloudbursts, landslides and house collapses triggered by heavy rainfall in the hills.

The action came a day after over 15,000 tourists and pilgrims were stranded on the 290 km Rishikesh-Gangotri national highway for more than 16 hours due to a massive landslide near Maneri Sainji village, 20 km from Uttarkashi. The tourists were later rescued by 20 teams of Border Roads Organisation personnel. 

Chief minister Vijay Bahuguna said he had warned district magistrates and other senior officials concerned against misusing the aid money. "I want each district magistrate to maintain a record of how the interim amount meant for disaster management is spent for the purpose," he said.